Strawberry-Banana-Avocado Smoothie To Go!

In a previous post, I talked about how much we loved our latest baby/toddler food pouch/cup discovery, the Sucup.  It's perfectly sized, easy to use, spill-proof, and best of all, even travels well.  Annalyn loves that it fits in the cup holder of her car seat.  Mama loves that she can have a snack or breakfast on the go without risking her making a huge mess in the car.  It's true, we definitely love this cup!  Here's a recipe for a quick and easy toddler smoothie that's been a big hit with Peanut lately and fits perfectly into her Sucup. 

Strawberry-Banana-Avocado Smoothie To Go

Ingredients:  (or double this recipe and store half for later or the next day.  Add a little lemon juice to help prevent the fruit from browning.)

- 1/2 ripe banana

- 1/2 avocado
- 1/4 c. strawberry yogurt

- 1-2 T. milk to thin to desired consistency

Baby Product Review: Peanut's Favorite Smoothie Cup - Nuby Super StrawEasy Grip Cup

Nuby Super Straw Easy Grip Cup

First of all, I would love to tell you that I spend hours researching the perfect smoothie cup with a non-spill straw that's easy to hold, easy to use, and easy to clean.   But that just isn't the case with this one.  In fact, I didn't even buy it.  This cup was bought by my very own professional baby shopper (aka Grandma) and was convenienty waiting for Peanut in her cupboard last time we stopped through for a quick visit.  Annalyn was instantly drawn to it (what one-year-old doesn't love straws?) and so was I after watching her walk around the house without spilling a drop (minus the occasional mouthful she intentional dribbles down her chin to be ornery).   Shamelessly, we asked Grandma Cindy where she bought it (Target) and if we could have it!  Like any good grandma, she sent it home with us, saying she would just replace it next time she got to the store.  Ya just can't beat grandparents, am I right?

My Baby's Done With Purees, Now What? Our Top 10 Favorites!

I've been asked to give advice about good baby/toddler finger foods a few times lately, so I decided to write a post about it.  Granted, I am no nutritionist, I am just a mama of an eating machine.  I remember the questions I had when Annalyn first started really wanting to feed herself, and honestly, there's no perfect answer.  Like any parent, I did what I felt was best for my kiddo, including lots of trial & error (after all, she is our "practice kid" as Michael puts it... aka first born).  We have our go-to meals/snacks, but now that she's eating table foods, we try to give her what we're eating, just cut into manageable pieces (at first, about the size of a pea).  This is a list of some of Peanut's favorites, but again, don't hesitate to give baby what the rest of the family's eating, too.  It's important to introduce him/her to the flavors you normally cook with so you don't end up with a super picky eater later on.  It's not all inclusive, but here's a few of our go-to toddler meals/snacks:

bring on the real food!
(I love throwback Peanut pics!)

Peanut Post: Prune Banana Avocado Smoothie with Oatmeal & Flax

Another yummy smoothie/puree for Peanut!  We just can't get enough of these nutritious, easy smoothies.  I love that I can make up a big batch and have her snack or breakfast covered for the whole week.  This one sneaks in all kinds of goodies:  prunes for sweetness and to promote regular bowel movements, avocado for healthy fats and smooth texture, bananas for sweetness and potassium, yogurt for calcium and creaminess, ground flax for omega-3 fatty acids that promote brain and overall development, and lastly fortified baby oatmeal for added iron.  Maybe it's the pharmacist in me that makes me write recipes according to nutrients, but I like to think it's just the mother in me.  Here's how this nutrition-conscious mama makes it:

Prune Banana Avocado Smoothie with Oatmeal & Flax

Ingredients:
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 ripe avocado
- 5-6 dried plums (aka prunes)
- 6 oz. vanilla or plain yogurt
- 1-2 t. ground flax seed
- 1/4 c. baby oatmeal (iron fortified, for extra nutrition!)
- 1/2 c. whole milk or water, plus more as needed to thin consistency

Peanut Post: Pearberry Yogurt Smoothie

I love this smoothie because it combines some of Annalyn's favorite flavors, while giving her calcium, potassium, fiber, antioxidants, and all around goodness!  While the yogurt and banana can be constipating in large amounts, the pear and blueberry help offset that (fellow parents, you know how important the bowel regulation becomes - crazy how much I consider that when planning her meals!).

Pearberry Yogurt Smoothie

Ingredients:
- 1 medium ripe pear
- 1 medium ripe banana
- 1/2 c. blueberries
- 1/2 c. yogurt

- baby cereal as needed to achieve desired thickness

Directions:

1.  Begin by washing the fruit, peeling the banana, and peeling/coring the pear.  Cute the banana and pear in to large chunks, then place in a blender or food processor. 

2.  Blend slightly to mash, then add the blueberry and yogurt.  Give it another quick blend and you're done!  Add baby cereal as needed to adjust thickness.

printable recipe

Perfect treat for morning cartoons with Daddy! Love lazy hotel mornings :)

Peanut Post: Another Yummy Smoothie Recipe! (Spinach-Sweet Potato-Green Pea-Pear)

Another of Annalyn's favorite smoothies (purees), this one is sure to be a hit with parents and kiddos alike!  The sweet potato and pear add fiber and sweetness, while the pea and spinach add texture and nutrients.  As you've probably noticed, I'm a big fan of adding green leafy veggies to Annalyn's purees... and why not?!  She loves it and so do I.  The other day I gave her a store bought food pouch that was a mix of spinach, pear, and green pea... sounds great, right?  Well, I have to say, she loved the flavor, but I was a bit disturbed when I saw that it was about the same color as applesauce.  How on earth can that puree contain a significant amount of spinach and peas?  Every time I add anything green, my purees instantly turn this beautiful vibrant green color.  If you ask me, that's pretty misleading.  All the more inspiration to make my own, I suppose!  Anyway, here's how Mama makes it:

Spinach-Sweet Potato-Green Pea-Pear Smoothie

Ingredients:
- 1 c. diced sweet potato (I like to buy a few, dice, and freeze)
- 1 c. frozen green peas
- 1/4 to 1/2 c. water
- 1/2 c. packed spinach, frozen or fresh
- 1 pear, peeled and chopped

Peanut Post: Blueberry-Banana-Yogurt-Oat Smootie

Peanut & Mama have officially fallen in love with smoothies lately.  They make the perfect on the go snack, are easy to pack for road trips and easy to feed in the car/at a restaurant/while getting groceries/etc.  With the help of my handing reusable pouches, I'm having a great time experimenting with new flavor combinations.  Here's a yummy fruit and yogurt treat packed with nutrition.  The addition of baby oatmeal to thicken the mixture also makes it extra filling for hungry baby tummies.  This mama even added a little cinnamon for my little lady.

Blueberry-Banana-Yogurt-Oat Smoothie

Ingredients:

- 1 ripe banana

- 1/4 c. blueberries, frozen or fresh

- 1/2 c. yogurt

- baby cereal as needed to thicken

- dash of cinnamon, optional

Directions:

1.  In a blender or food processor, combine banana, blueberries, and yogurt; puree until smooth.

2.  Since the puree was pretty runny, I added baby cereal to thicken the mixture to the consistency of thick applesauce (ideal for the pouches).  Add a little at a time and blend after each addition.  Add cinnamon, optional.

this is about the perfect consistency

3.  Spoon into pouches, freeze in ice cube trays, or serve immediately.  Peanut was a big fan and it filled up her little belly on our way back from Huntington last weekend to hold her over until dinner.

printable recipe

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Peanut Post: Whipped Banana Avocado Smoothie

Avocado and banana has always been a favorite combination for Annalyn.  As she's gotten older, we've added the yogurt and/or whole milk to make it even creamer.  I must confess that I occasionally steal some of this puree for myself because it's so yummy.  It's actually one of Peanut's and my favorite breakfast treats.   Here's how this mama makes it:

Whipped Banana Avocado Smoothie



Ingredients:
- 2 ripe bananas
- 2 ripe avocadoes
- 1 small container plain or vanilla yogurt (try to use whole milk yogurt without a lot of added sugar)
- whole milk, as needed to achieve desired consistency (about 1/4 - 1/2 c.)